Top-ranked Alabama turns attention toward No. 7 Florida

Alabama running back Mark Ingram appears ready to plow through the SEC.

TUSCALOOSA -- Credit Mark Ingram for Alabama's rescue from Razorback Stadium. As the seconds slipped away, his muscles grew thicker. He pounded through hammering hits and shed gang tackles like a guy covered in petroleum jelly.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner might have knocked down the stadium if Nick Saban had issued a permit. Instead, the Crimson Tide coach placed the ball in Ingram's hands six of the final eight plays, including his winning 1-yard push for the 24-20 victory.

Players spoke of absorbing the fourth win of the season for 24 hours, then moving on to Saturday's primetime match-up against No. 7 Florida.

Saban was adamant during his postgame press conference in a room more suited for sardines. He wants the Tide, now 4-0, to retain the painful memories of a poor first half that threatened to derail their shot to defend the national title.

That includes Arkansas' two-play opening drive capped by a Ryan Mallett touchdown pass to running back Ronnie Wingo, left wide open before breaking toward the end zone. There were two Tide interceptions, including one in the end zone, a fumble and a sack. The defense missed assignments, looked confused at times and struggled to pressure Mallett before halftime.

"I want them to remember what it's like not playing the way you're capable of playing, not playing with the intensity and focus you need to have," Saban said. "We have a standard we want to play to, we want to play to it all the time. We certainly didn't get that done in the first half."

Alabama picked up three more votes as the nation's No. 1 team Sunday after an impressive rally on the road from a 13-point deficit with 6:32 left in the third quarter.

End the debate about the Tide facing tests of adversity. After three relatively easy games, Alabama was spinning punch-drunk Saturday beneath the roar of an Arkansas school-record 76,808 fans.

Ingram found the smelling salt, and Alabama passed some IQ tests in the second half.

The defense registered a pair of sacks in the third quarter before forcing Mallett into two of his three interceptions, damaging the Hogs' quarterbacks bid for the Heisman.

Saban said the most significant change was in the Tide's intensity level.

"When we came here we told the players we were going to have to change the way everybody thought," Saban said. "We were going to have to earn. It was going to take a tremendous amount of intensity, enthusiasm and energy to do that. We did not have that in the first half. ...To the team's credit, they responded at halftime, did a great job in the second half. I think it says a lot about their competitive character."

For the second straight week, Alabama will play in arguably the nation's most ballyhooed game, this one being a rematch of the last two SEC title games.

The Gators are 4-0, but have yet to register a big-time win. Sure, they knocked off Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., but UAB took the Volunteeers to double overtime before suffering a 32-29 loss.

Florida seemed to gain its offense in a 48-14 win against Kentucky in Gainesville, Fla., but the Gators could be without speedster Jeff Demps, who suffered a foot injury in the game and underwent X-rays Saturday night.

Florida freshman quarterback Trey Burton had a breakout game against the Wildcats, scoring five rushing touchdowns and catching one more to break Tim Tebow's freshman touchdown record.

Burton shared time at quarterback with John Brantley, it was reminiscent of the role Tebow played as a freshman sharing time with Chris Leak.

"They're a great team," Tide center William Vlachos said. "They're going to be coming for us. We've got 'em at home. We look forward to the challenge. We know they're going to bring their best stuff. We've got to bring ours."